Helping hands: Community looks to aid daughter of family swept away at Big Lagoon

Members of the Humboldt County community are banding together to support 18-year-old Olivia Kuljian, who lost her parents and younger brother Saturday during a drowning incident at Big Lagoon.

Mary Elena Scott, 57, and her husband Howard Kuljian, 54, died after being swept into the ocean near Orick, according to the Humboldt County Coroner's Office. Their bodies were recovered Saturday. The couple's son, 16-year-old Arcata High School student Gregory "Geddie" Kuljian, was still missing Tuesday.

Olivia Kuljian was on the beach with her family when they drowned. Eyewitness Sean Ledwin, a senior fisheries biologist with the Hoopa Valley Tribe, said Geddie Kuljian went in the water in an effort to retrieve the family's dog. Howard Kuljian went in the waves after his son, and his wife Mary Elena Scott soon followed to try to save them. All three were swept away.

Family friend Teresa Lucchesi-Cook said Olivia Kuljian is requesting that people not place flowers on the beach at Big Lagoon, which had already taken place by Monday. She said Olivia Kuljian doesn't want anyone near the waves.

"She wants people to stay out of harm's way," Lucchesi-Cook said.

The Kuljian and Scott family is well known in the community, especially in their Freshwater neighborhood. Those who knew them are already working to find ways to help Olivia, and honor her loved ones.

JoAnn Moore, an Arcata High School teacher and English department chair, said a bank account has been created to help Olivia Kuljian, who has been attending college after graduating from Arcata High. Moore said the account is 182671 at Coast Central Credit Union, 1551 Giuntoli Lane in Arcata. Donation checks for the fund should be made out to Olivia Kuljian, and donations can be made at any Coast Central Credit Union branch.

Family friends are waiting for Olivia Kuljian's extended family to arrive before making any major decisions. Lucchesi-Cook that they will have a clearer idea of how the community can help her once more family members are in town.

In the meantime, a Lotsa Helping Hands website -- an online community volunteer site -- has been created. Lucchesi-Cook said people can sign up to help at www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/665072/.

She said the Freshwater community is a tight-knit one that is making sure to gently shelter and love Olivia Kuljian in her time of need.

Moore said Arcata High is considering various ways to honor Geddie Kuljian. She said no decisions have been made yet, as they want to give Olivia Kuljian and the rest of the Kuljian and Scott relatives a chance to provide input.

"It's all so new and overwhelming, and nobody wants to step on anybody's toes," Moore said.

She said there have been discussions about dedicating a yearbook page to him or having a green bench at the school as a memorial. Green was Geddie Kuljian's favorite color, and students at the high school wore the color Monday to honor him and his family.

The "Wear Green For Geddie" Facebook campaign was started over the weekend by fellow Arcata High students Ruby Dickinson, Ian Johnson and Raven Johnson. The Facebook event page said green was Geddie Kuljian's favorite color because he would say, "when you look outside, that's all you see." As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 1,675 people from all over the world had pledged to wear green.

Moore said about 70 percent of the school wore green Monday. She said students were still wearing green Tuesday, and that the whole student body has felt the impact of his loss.

"It's certainly been quiet at school. It's going to be a difficult week," Moore said.

She said students wanting to talk about their emotions, even former Arcata High students, are encouraged to meet with school officials.

"We do have counselors available in a crisis mode all week for both students and teachers," Moore said.

Lucchesi-Cook said Garfield Elementary School in Eureka also opened its doors over the weekend to those wishing to speak with counselors. She said many of the students who knew Geddie Kuljian had attended school with him since kindergarten.

How to help:

* Don't place flowers at Big Lagoon beach, at the family's request

* Monetary donations can be made to account 182671 at Coast Central Credit Union